Tomorrow's Childhood

The way fate changes

Taehyun hadn't meant for it to happen but even one small moment, the tiniest action could change someone's life forever. Taehyun wasn't sure how much he believed in that but he just accepted that it was possible. He'd seen it happen before; a girl trips in the park and is caught by a guy, who she had no idea was her future husband. Someone takes a different route on their daily walk and they end up finding a dog, the lost piece of their lives that they didn't even know was missing. 

This was Taehyun's moment of life altering events. 

"Do you need help?" Taehyun jumped, turning around and looking up. Damn, this kid was tall.

"Um-yeah, thanks" He nodded, backing away. Taehyun watched the taller boy grab his octopus toy, which had gotten thrown up into a tree and was stuck. Taehyun had been trying for the past hour to get it down but he wasn't getting very far. 

"Here" The kid handed the octopus to Taehyun, who cuddled it to his chest, petting the ruffled cloth. 

"Thank you" He mumbled, avoiding eye contact out of embarrassment. He used to be the tallest in his grade but that was in kindergarten, this was elementary school. He wasn't even tall enough to reach the lowest branch of a small tree. Curse his height.

"I've never seen you this way before" The boy stated. Taehyun nodded, grabbing his backpack.

"My usual route is under construction" Taehyun started walking, not even caring that he was followed closely by his hero. 

"Do you mind me walking with you?" The taller boy wondered. Taehyun shrugged, glancing at the other kid. He had black hair and a bright face. He looked like someone who was always smiling. Taehyun remembered seeing him before but he couldn't remember the name. All he remembered was the kid's last name was Choi. 

"You already are" Taehyun responded. He just wanted to get home and hide in his room. 

"Yeah, that's true. Okay" Silence stretched between them for a moment. Taehyun shivered and a moment later he had a jacket thrown at him. This guy was way too nice for his own good but Taehyun couldn't find it in him to reject the gift so he slipped the jacket around his shoulders and instinctively moved slower, allowing the older kid to catch up with him. They walked side by side a long time. Taehyun could have sworn he saw the kid stop for a moment when they got to a house but then he sped up and continued walking with Taehyun.

"I'm Yeonjun. You?" Yeonjun bumped Taehyun's arm. Right, that was his name. Taehyun remembered now; Yeonjun made a big scandal in the school the year before but Taehyun wasn't sure why or what happened. 

"Taehyun" Once again, it was silent. Taehyun stopped in front of his small house, feeling embarrassed again. The house that Yeonjun had almost stopped in front of was big, probably had over five rooms and had a small garden in the front, flowers blooming everywhere and a tree in the front yard. Taehyun's house was run down, only two bedrooms and the yard was nothing but dirt. A dead flower sat in a pot on the porch and there were no trees, unless the stump right in front of the house counted but Taehyun didn't think it did.

"I enjoyed walking with you, Taehyun. You should come this way more often" Yeonjun held his hand out, fist closed. Taehyun hesitated and then did the same, bumping fists with Yeonjun. The older kid smiled, his eyes closing a little and shining like a star as he turned and walked away. It wasn't until he was out of sight that Taehyun realized he was still wearing Yeonjun's jacket so he took it off and looked at the print on it, signaling the owner's grade and class. Taehyun almost dropped the jacket; he had walked with a fifth grader!!! 

"Where were you, Hyunnie?" Taehyun's mom wondered when he walked in. She was slipping an earring on, hurrying. Taehyun peeked at the clock on the wall; she was late for work.

"The usual way was blocked with construction so I found another way" Taehyun explained, setting his backpack down on the counter with his lunchbox.

"Hey, look at me. Why is your face bleeding?" His mom questioned. Taehyun gently touched his cheek, looking at the blood that came away on his hand.

"I must have scratched it on a tree or something. It's fine" Taehyun shrugged. He didn't scratch it on a tree; those stupid kids. 

"Was it those kids again? Don't lie to me, baby" She sighed; stuffing her purse with something. 

"No, eomma. I just scratched myself" Taehyun shook his head again, taking his backpack to the table to start on his homework.

"Taehyun..." The woman sighed. Taehyun cut her off.

"Your going to be late. I'll be fine" Taehyun insisted, already pulling out his things. The door closed and he stopped; he knew the drill. First, he got his homework done, then he went to shower and then eat the food that his mom had left in the fridge for him and then he would usually play outside or watch TV. Except he didn't do any of that. He grabbed his ball cap, Yeonjun's jacket, his house key and ditched the phone that had a tracker on it so his mom didn't worry, and then slipped out of the house and went back the way he had come. 

Taehyun didn't know why he was destined to meet Yeonjun but it changed his life. He'll blame it on the construction. Or the stupid kids that threw his octopus into a tree. But either way, Yeonjun was around for good. And Taehyun was never going to let go of him. They walked together the rest of their lives; past the rich house that was Yeonjun's, past the park where they had met and to Taehyun's run down house where they met up with their other three friends and then they caused havoc and did whatever they wanted.

After all, one small decision or event can change a person's life forever. Taehyun just never thought he was that lucky.

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Yeonjun-10. 5th grade
Soobin-9. 4th grade
Beomgyu-8. 3rd grade
Taehyun-7. 2nd grade
Kai-7. 2nd grade